Meet The Host(s)

Jim Scoutten

When it comes to covering the shooting sports industry, Jim Scoutten is known as one of the leading experts due to his journalistic integrity and his passion for quality outdoor programming. Although Jim’s been a longtime advocate for the firearms industry and defending the Second Amendment, he began his professional career as a mainstream journalist.

Long before focusing on the shooting sports industry, Jim was interested in reporting the news. In fact, while he was still in broadcasting school he first got a job with All News Radio. After graduation, he segued into a career in television news working in several cities across the United States and holding many different positions. Working as a reporter, anchor, producer and news director, Jim gained an extensive knowledge of the television industry and understood what makes for quality televised journalism.

In the early 1990s, Jim took his career in a new direction, becoming a Special Interest Reporter. His early assignments were covering the burgeoning motorsports industry, but he switched to shooting sports at his earliest chance.

In 1993, Jim signed on as producer to the long running American Shooter. Working as a producer and host of that program for nearly a decade, Jim saw how lucrative Special Interest Reporting could be. Since he was able to cover a topic that he was truly passionate about, his reporting was enthusiastic and his shows were as fun to watch as they were informative. Over time, American Shooter became the highest rated outdoor program in history; garner more than one million fans nationwide.

Jim currently serves as host of Shooting USA and Sighting In with Shooting USA on Outdoor Channel. He remains one of the most important figures in the shooting sports industry.

John Scoutten

His immersion into television at a young age fueled John Scoutten’s passion for broadcast journalism. For more than a decade, John has both hosted Shooting USA and produced Emmy-nominated stories through his reports on the practical disciplines of the shooting sports, new products, and home gunsmithing projects. John utilizes his wide knowledge of firearms and the industry in his reporting. And both tests new products and his own shooting skills in matches across the country.

John’s introduction to broadcast journalism came through his father, Jim Scoutten. In grade school, John spent every Friday night at a television news station watching Jim anchor the 10 o’clock news. It was John’s first exposure to television production.

John began his career as a Production Assistant for the long running gun show series, carrying loads of gear and supporting the videographers on assignment. He would rise to being the director of one of the production company’s motor sports series before leaving to be a part of the continuing production of the gun series under the title Shooting USA. With his years of TV experience, it was an easy transition to on-air work in Shooting USA.

Now, as a host, producer, and competitive shooter, for America’s Most Watched Firearms Show, John is maintaining the family tradition. John works to share his expertise and passion for firearms with the audience, while paving the way to welcome new shooters to competition.

“Taking the time to develop friendships with the top practical shooters in the game has given me access to their knowledge and also a better understanding of how they do what they do at their level,” said Shooting USA co-host and producer, John Scoutten. “By breaking down this information, I hope the practical shooting sports become more approachable to give the viewers a sense that they can get out to the range and join the competition.”